Automatic coupling for railway vehicles



L. KURTOSSY AUTOMATIC COUELINCi FOR RAILWAY" VEHICLES Feb. 22,

Filed March 12, 1925 5 Shegts-Sheet 1 Feb. 22. 1927.

| KURTbssY AUTOMATIC (SOUP LING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES Filed Maggh 12, 1925 5 Sheets-Sh not 5 Feb. 22; 1921. 1,618,836

L. KURTOSSY AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES Filed March 12, 1925 s Sheds-Shut -4 W1 ,1 1;? 1 5 44 4a" 1 1;

/ v yn- Bro Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

LAszLo KuRross or BonAr'ns'r, HUNGARY;

AVUTOMATYIC ooUrLIiIG FOR RAILWAY" vnriionns.

Application filed-March 12, 1925, Serial No. 1 5,011, and in Hungary M rch 24, 1924.

This invention relates to central buffer couplings for railway vehicles, in which the guiding surfaces ofthe coupling head also take up the buffer forces and are so arg) ranged that they guide the heads into a predetermined extreme position each time they are pushed together.

fSeverai kinds of couplings have alreadybeen proposed all of which, however, have 10 certain disadvantages. The circumstance that, the coupling members 7 smoothly even after the vehicles. have been turned, necessitates the head being relatively wide, when the guiding surfaces .are' ar 5 ranged in the ordinary manner. This' ap.- plies more particularly to coupling heads, in which atone side of the longitudinal central plane there is heads a projection bounded by inclined head a recess for receiving the said pro-.' jection. In such coupling heads the horizon-' tal difference, which in the most; favourable case can still he equalized, in each head amounts to o ne t'hird of the width of the coupling head in each lateral directionand therefore the total'horizontal difference that the head is capable of takinglup to twothirds of the total width of. the head.

Another group of coupling head'sof a known type comprises constructions, in

which diametrically opposite projections are provided-on the head suitable for compensating vertical andhorizontal differences, the amount of which as compared with the dimensions of the head the heads previously lC-f fer-red to. Ashowever in the latter the.

is greater than in guiding surfaces reach atmost to the 1ni d die of the head, the projections are unsup and in' the guiding surfaces do not ,ported, wl1en the heads are closed,

consequence transmit any buffer forces.

ln the coupling head fori'ning the subject I must work on one ofthe coupling guiding surfaces and at the other side of the said plane and inthe other-coupling H V 7 for the purpose of vertical and horizontal comp'ensationh Such arrangements are generally. speaking extendingthrough the whole breadth of the head and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other gui'dii'rg stir-- face extending through the whole heightof the coupling head: and inclined; to the horizontal central"longitudinal plane, so that between the projections two diametrically; opposite'recessesare formed. This arrange- 1 ment' of thesurfaces ensures von the one hand, that the'head is capable oftakingup differences in the vertical and horizontaldirection equal toits dimensions, and on the other hand, owing to the surfaces which guide in the'horizontal direction extending right across the head and being so inclined;

to the vertical ce'ntralplane" that in the plan view of the head they intersect 'i'nthe longitudinal axis'of the latter, that after sliding; intoengagement with one anotherth'e heads without the help of any other memherfr'estj against each other snugly andlth'e guiding surfaces transmit the buffer forces overtheir whole extent.

The accompanying drawings illustrate constructional examples of the coupling head, V r

Fig. 1' being a front elevation,

Fig.2 a side elevation, s

Fig. 3 a 'planview and Fig. 4 a perspective view.

Figs. 5 to 8 show similar views of another constructional form, I

Figs; 9 to 12 'the arrangement ofthe coupling pin in a coupling head as shown iii Figs. 5 to 8, i i

Figs.fl8 to 16 a side view, a plan view, a front elevation'and'a perspective view of the coupling head;

Fig-.17 the coupling bolt, 7

'18 two coupling heads in engagement in plan and partly in section. 7

theline U-U- of L-L of Figs. 15 and- 16. i i

tal central plane. By this means two diametrically opposite projections V and V are formed and two abutments R and R Owing to the strictly geometrical construction, 111 which the guiding surfaces intersect in lines passing through the longitudinal centre line of the head, the projections will rest accurately on the abutments, when the heads are interlocked, all the guiding surfaces lying right against one another and a snug engagement of the heads being efiected. The greatest possible horizontal difference is equal to the width or of the head and the greatest possible vertical difierence equal to the height 3) of the head. 7

In Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 each guiding surface is constituted by two parts (1, 1; 2, 2; 3, 3; 4,4) and between each of the said parts'a flat surface 11, 12, 13, it is interposed, such that all the planes intersect in the centre line LL of the head. This gives the advantage that the heads, when they come into engagement with each other, move only in the direction in which the train travels without any lateral or vertical displacement. This ensures the proper action of the coupling members (pins and the like) and makes it possible'to mount the connections for the pipes and the like on the coupling heads without any danger.

VV'hen pins are used for connecting the coupling heads, more particularly in conjunction. with the form of head shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, a pin of the form shown in Figs. 9 to 12 will be preferably used. According to the invention the bearing surface 5 of the pin B and the abutment sur face 6 are inclined to the direction of motion T of the pin. This arran ement together with the guiding surfaces ll14 ensures a gradual closing and fI'iCtlOlllBi'S release of the parts, even when these are in tension. The pin commences its locking action even before the heads have got right home (Fig. 11) and sinlrs gradually till they are fully engaged (Fig. From the closed posi tion the pin may easily be raised, even when the parts are in tension, as owing to the inclined position of the surfaces 5 and 6 the latter separate without sliding on one another.. Figs. 9 and 10 show the arrangement of the pin in a head of the kind shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7,

This construction of pin with an inclined bearing surface provides the further advantage that the pin follows up automatically as it becomes worn, which ensures the ab? sence of back lash.

The guiding surfaces 1i may be flat or curved.

In a modified form of the coupling according to the invention between a projection and a recess on the head, a projecting memher is v provided extending transversely through the vertical longitudinal middle plane of the head and a recess having the negative shape of the said projecting member for the reception of the projecting member of the other head.

Owing to this construction the coupling heads, when sliding into engagement with one another, are forced, besides the move ment in the direction of pull, to perform a lateral movement relative to one another, on the projecting members sliding into their respective recesses. Similarly, on the coupling being uncoupled, the heads must perform the same lateral movement. The projecting members are so formed that two coupling heads, when in engagement with one another. would slide off from each other under the action of the pull, so that for establishing a connection which will withstand the pull it is necessary to provide separate locking means, which will prevent the lateral movement of the heads referred to above. Any suitable locking means may be used for this purpose.

In Figs. 13-20 the upper projection formed bythe guiding surfaces 1 and 2 is marked V and the lower projection formed by the guiding surfaces 3 and lmarked V R is the upper and R, the lower recess formed-by theguiding surfaces 1 2 and 3 4; respectively. In the example shown the pair of surfaces 2 and a or 2 for overcoming the difference in height of the coupling heads is interrupted by a horizontal surface 21 and are tlvreby each divided into two partial surfaces 2 and i andQ and 4; respectively. Instead of having a plane surface 21 the coupling head may have its said surfaces merging into one another gradually. form as well the surfaces extend right from one side of the coupling to the other.

According to the present invention on one of the projecting parts, in the example shown on the upper'one, the projectiriginemher N is'provided, which extends through the middle plane Mr M. For forming this projecting member the middle part of the surface 1 has for instance the form of a sine curve (Fighle), the projecting mem-V her being so positioned that the middle plane M-d passes through the point of inflection of the sine curve. After the two heads have slid into engagement, the two projecting members will interloclg'as shown in section in Fig. 19. In order to prevent and at In this constructional the coupling from opening by the coupling 7 heads sliding with respect to each other in the direction ofthe plane of the contact uoi, the coupling bolt 6 is provided in the head, the arrangement being such that, on the two heads sliding into engagement with each other, the bolts will slide one behind the other, the surface 11 of the bolt, which acts as the power transmitting surface, en-

closing anangle with the surface nu of misses the projecting member, which serves the same purpose. Preferably the imaginary eX- tensions of these surfaces will intersect in the middle plane MM. In the constructional example shown the bolt 6 is in a guide, which is inclined to the middle plane and is-provided with a shank 7 and, for locking it, with a. stop rnember 8, which slides in the manner of abayonetcatch in a slot 9 of the casing 10. The outer end of the bolt is constantly loaded, for instance by a spring 14. The shank 7 is provided with the adjusting means required for adjusting the bolt.

The connections of the various pipes ex tending thr-ough the vehicles (for air, steam, electricity and the like) are arranged along the upper edge of the coupling head and are off-set with respect to each. other (Figs. 1246 Of the connections lying outside the longitudinal middle plane the abutting surfaces 15,16 on the, projecting part are setbehind the guiding surface 1 and the abutting. surfaces 15' and 16 in the recess are set in front of the guiding surface 1. This arrangement has the object of preventing the packing rings coming incontact'with the guiding surfaces of the other coupling head, on the heads sliding into engag ement.

On two coupling heads coming in contact with each other eccentrically, the differences in height are equalized by the guiding surfaces 2, 4:, 4 and 2 and the differences in the lateral direction by the guiding surfaces 1 1, l and 3. Asthe abutment surface 11 of the bolt 6 and the abutment surfaces n-% of the projecting members are inclined in opposite directions with respect to the ver tical middleplane of the coupling, no rela-. tive displacement of the heads can. take place, when the parts are locked.

For releasing the coupling one of the bolts '6 is raised, until it releases the second bolt.

Any suitable means can be used for this purpose. The example shown in the draw-' ing is so constructed that it will meetall the demands made on it in ordinary working conditions and more particularly will prevent the unintentional coupling of vehicles, which have not been drawn apart and thus makes it possible for thehea'd' to be used simply as a buffer.

If the vehicles are pulled apart immediatel y after the bolt has been'lifted, the bolt (3, after being withdrawn by the lever 17, will be returned into its position of rest by the spring 13, after which the coupling head is ready to be 'recoupled. If, on theother hand, the vehicles are not immediately drawn apart, the lei er willbe turned, after the withdrawalof the bolt, in such a manner that the stop member S'of the bOltG will engage in the recess 18 and for returning the bolt into the position of rest automatically,

on the vehicles being drawn apart, the lever 17 of one liead'is connectedfto the nextvehicle, for instance by means of a chain 19 and a ring 20, such that, on the vehicles being drawn apart, I far displaced by the pull of the chain, that the spring 13 will return the bolt 6 into the position of rest, the lever 17 being swung back so far, that, in thece'xamp'le shown,the connection is broken automatically by the ring sliding off.

5 Instead-of the constructional form of head i shown in the drawings, in whichrthe projecting 1 member N and the recess A are formed :by a. single surface, the generating line of which is similar to asinecurveythe iead may be provided with any other suit able form of projecting member. Y V VVhatIclaim is:- Y 1. An automatic buffer coupling-for railway vehicles comprising two coupling heads, each headformed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projectionbeing constit uted'by two surfaces one-surface extending through the whole breadth of the head and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclined to the horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitute horizontal and vertical guiding surfacesand two diametrically opposite recesses between said projections, having the negative forni of the latter, the projections of'one head being capable offfitting closely into'the recesses of the other head, and coupling means for. holding the heads in. coupled relation. as. and for the purpose set forth. c I c 2. An automatic buffer coupling for rail way vehicles comprising two coupling heads, each head formed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projection being constituted by two surfaces one surface extending th rough the whole breadth of the head and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface'extending through the whole height of the head, and inclined to the horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitute horizontal and vertical guiding surfaces and two diametrically opposite recess-es between said projecti'ons having the negative form of the latter, the projections of one head beingca'pable of fittingclosely into the recesses of the other head and the horizontal guiding surfaces intersecting in the vertical central plane of the head, and coupling means for holding the heads in coupled relation as set forth, I p v 3. An automatic buffer'coupling for railway vehicle-scomprising two heads, each head formed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projection being constituted by twosurfaces, one surface extending through the whole breadth of the head and the lever 17 will be so inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclined to the horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitut horizontal and vertical guiding surfaces and two diametrically opposite recesses between said projections having the negative form of the latter, the projections of one head being capable of fit-- ting closely into the recesses of the other head and the horizontal guiding surfaces intersecting in the vertical central plane of the head and flat axially directed portions in the said guiding surfaces for the purpose of positively guiding the coupling heads in the direction of their longitudinal centre line, and coupling means for holding the heads in coupled relation as and for the purpose set forth.

' 4. An automatic buffer coupling for railway vehicles comprising two coupling heads, each head formed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projection being constituted by two surfaces one surface extending through the whole breadth of the head and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclined to the horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitute horizontal and vertical guiding surfaces and two diametrically opposite recesses between the two projections having the negative form of the latter, the projections of one head being capable of fitting closely into the recesses of the other head and the horizontal guiding surfaces intersecting in the vertical central plane of the head and coupling pins for coupling the coupling heads the surface of the said pins for transmitting the tractive effort being inclined to the direction in which the pins are inserted, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An automatic buffer coupling for railway vehicles comprising two coupling heads, each head formed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projection being constituted by two surfaces, one surface extending through the whole breadth of the head and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclined to the horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitute horizontal and vertical guiding surfaces, and two diametrically opposite recess-es between said projections having the negative form of the latter the projections of one head being capable of fitting closely into the recesses of the other head, a projecting member on each head extending between a projection and a recess and passing through the vertical longitudinal central plane of the head the latter, and coupling means for holding the heads in coupled relation as set forth.

6. An automatic buffer coupling for railway vehicles comprising two coupling heads, each head formed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projectionbeing constituted by two surfaces, one surface extending through the whole breadth of the head and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclined to the horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitute horizontal and vertical guiding surfaces and two diametrically opposite recesses between said projections having the negative form of the latter, the projections of one head being capable of fitting closely into the recesses of the other head and a coupling in in each coupling head, the surface of the said pins for transmitting the tractive effort being inclined to the direction in which the pins are inserted, a projecting member on each head extending between a projection and a recess and passing through the vertical longitudinal central plane of the head and a recess having the negative shape of the said projecting member for the reception of the latter.

7. An automatic buffer coupling for railway vehicles comprising two coupling heads, each head formed by two diametrically opposite projections, each projection being constituted by two surfaces, one surface extending through the whole breadth of the lead and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclineto horizontal central longitudinal plane so as to constitute horizontal and vertical guiding surfaces and two diametrically opposite recesse een said projections having the negative form of the latter, the projections of one head being capable of fitting closely into the recesses of the other head and a coupling pin in each coupling head, the relative position of the pins being such that, when the two coupling heads are in engagement with one another, each pin forms an abutment for the other, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. An automatic buffer coupling for railway vehicles, comprising two coupling heads, each headvforined by two diametrically opposite projections, each projection being constituted by two guiding-surfaces,one surface extending through the whole breadth of thehead and inclined to the vertical central longitudinal plane, the other surface extending through the whole height of the head and inclined to thehorizontal central longitudinal plane, two diametrically opposite recesses between the said projections, having and a recess having the negative shape of the the negative form of the latter, theprojecsaid projecting member for the reception of tions of one head being capable of fitting lUU closely into the recesses of the other head, and passages arranged in the said Coupling heads and capable of registering With each other when the coupling headsare in engagement with each other, the registering outlets of the said pasEages in the projection lying behind the guiding surface and the registering outlets of the passages in the recess lying In testimony whereof I name to this specification.

LAszLo have slgned my KURTossY. 

